Joanna Allhands is The Republic’s digital opinions editor, overseeing our opinions content on the web, in video and through social media.
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Napolitano’s second chance at immigration reform

MORNING UPDATE, JAN. 15:

Four more years: It’s surprising that former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has agreed to stick around for a second term leading the Department of Homeland Security. It’s a stressful job, few people tend to stick around this long, and there were plenty of rumors that Napolitano was ready to do something else. But if she’s still up for a fight, this could be a good thing for Arizona. Elected and civic leaders want the state to once again lead the conversation on comprehensive immigration reform. Napolitano oversees federal immigration policy and was tapped in Obama’s first term to overhaul the system. Napolitano’s connections here and in Washington make her a key ally for Arizona leaders to pursue.

Last of the mergers?The Economist offers an interesting analysis of the increasingly likely merger between American Airlines and Tempe-based US Airways, predicting it could lead to a “golden age” of airline profitability. Bankruptcies and consolidations may have finally taught carriers important price and expansion lessons. The troubled industry would be set right again. Or will it? The article also predicts that passengers’ experiences will continue to degrade, which seems to me like an even longer-term recipe for industry disaster.

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